Substituted isonipecotyl derivatives as inhibitors of cell adhesion

ABSTRACT

Compounds of Formula I are antagonists of VLA-4 and/or α 4 β 7 , and as such are useful in the inhibition or prevention of cell adhesion and cell-adhesion mediated pathologies. These compounds may be formulated into pharmaceutical compositions and are suitable for use in the treatment of AIDS-related dementia, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, asthma, atherosclerosis, autologous bone marrow transplantation, certain types of toxic and immune-based nephritis, contact dermal hypersensitivity, inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn&#39;s disease, inflammatory lung diseases, inflammatory sequelae of viral infections, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, multiple myeloma, myocarditis, organ transplantation, psoriasis, pulmonary fibrosis, restenosis, retinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, stroke, tumor metastasis, uveititis, and type I diabetes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The compounds of the present invention are antagonists of the VLA-4 integrin (“very late antigen-4”; CD49d/CD29; or α₄β1), the α4β7 integrin (LPAM-1 and α₄β_(p)), and/or the (α9β1 integrin, thereby blocking the binding of VLA-4 to its various ligands, such as VCAM-1 and regions of fibronectin, α4β7 to its various ligands, such as MadCAM-1, VCAM-1 and fibronectin, and /or (α9β1 to its various ligands, such as tenascin, osteopontin and VCAM-1. Thus, these antagonists are useful in inhibiting cell adhesion processes including cell activation, migration, proliferation and differentiation. These antagonists are useful in the treatment, prevention and suppression of diseases mediated by VLA-4-, α4β7-, and/or α9β1-binding and cell adhesion and activation, such as AIDS-related dementia, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, Alzheimer's disease, aortic stenosis, asthma, atherosclerosis, autologous bone marrow transplantation, certain types of toxic and immune-based nephritis, contact dermal hypersensitivity, inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, inflammatory lung diseases, inflammatory sequelae of viral infections, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, myocarditis, organ transplantation, psoriasis, restenosis, retinitis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, stroke, tumor metastasis, type I diabetes, vascular occlusion following angioplasty.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to isonipecotic acid amide derivatives which are useful for the inhibition and prevention of leukocyte adhesion and leukocyte adhesion-mediated pathologies. This invention also relates to compositions containing such compounds and methods of treatment using such compounds.

[0003] Many physiological processes require that cells come into close contact with other cells and/or extracellular matrix. Such adhesion events may be required for cell activation, migration, proliferation and differentiation. Cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions are mediated through several families of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) including the selectins, integrins, cadherins and immunoglobulins. CAMs play an essential role in both normal and pathophysiological processes. Therefore, the targetting of specific and relevant CAMs in certain disease conditions without interfering with normal cellular functions is essential for an effective and safe therapeutic agent that inhibits cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.

[0004] The integrin superfamily is made up of structurally and functionally related glycoproteins consisting of a and b heterodimeric, transmembrane receptor molecules found in various combinations on nearly every mammalian cell type. (for reviews see: E. C. Butcher, Cell, 67, 1033 (1991); T. A. Springer, Cell, 76, 301 (1994); D. Cox et al., “The Pharmacology of the Integrins.” Medicinal Research Rev. 14, 195 (1994) and V. W. Engleman et al., “Cell Adhesion Integrins as Pharmaceutical Targets.” in Ann. Repts. in Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 31, J. A. Bristol, Ed.; Acad. Press, NY, 1996, p. 191).

[0005] VLA-4 (“very late antigen-4”; CD49d/CD29; or α₄β₁) is an integrin expressed on all leukocytes, except platelets and mature neutrophils, including dendritic cells and macrophage-like cells and is a key mediator of the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions of of these cell types (see M. E. Hemler, “VLA Proteins in the Integrin Family: Structures, Functions, and Their Role on Leukocytes.” Ann. Rev. Immunol. 8, 365 (1990)). The ligands for VLA-4 include vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and the CS-1 domain of fibronectin (FN). VCAM-1 is a member of the Ig superfamily and is expressed in vivo on endothelial cells at sites of inflammation. (See R. Lobb et al. “Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1.” in Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation, C. G. Cochrane and M. A. Gimbrone, Eds.; Acad. Press, San Diego, 1993, p. 151.) VCAM-1 is produced by vascular endothelial cells in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines (See A. J. H. Gearing and W. Newman, “Circulating adhesion molecules in disease.”, Immunol. Today, 14, 506 (1993). The CS-1 domain is a 25 amino acid sequence that arises by alternative splicing within a region of fibronectin. (For a review, see R. O. Hynes “Fibronectins.”, Springer-Velag, NY, 1990.) A role for VLA-4/CS-1 interactions in inflammatory conditions has been proposed (see M. J. Elices, “The integrin α₄β₁ (VLA-4) as a therapeutic target” in Cell Adhesion and Human Disease, Ciba Found. Symp., John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1995, p. 79).

[0006] α₄β₇ (also referred to as LPAM-1 and α₄β_(p)) is an integrin expressed on leukocytes and is a key mediator of leukocyte trafficking and homing in the gastrointestinal tract (see C. M. Parker et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 89, 1924 (1992)). The ligands for α₄β₇ include mucosal addressing cell adhesion molecule-1 (MadCAM-1) and, upon activation of α₄β₇, VCAM-1 and fibronectin (Fn). MadCAM-1 is a member of the Ig superfamily and is expressed in vivo on endothelial cells of gut-associated mucosal tissues of the small and large intestine (“Peyer's Patches”) and lactating mammary glands. (See M. J. Briskin et al., Nature, 363, 461 (1993); A. Hamann et al., J. Immunol., 152, 3282 (1994)). MadCAM-1 can be induced in vitro by proinflammatory stimuli (See E. E. Sikorski et al. J. Immunol., 151, 5239 (1993)). MadCAM-1 is selectively expressed at sites of lymphocyte extravasation and specifically binds to the integrin, α₄β₇.

[0007] The α9β1 integrin is found on airway smooth muscle cells, non-intestinal epithelial cells (see Palmer et al., J. Cell Biol., 123, 1289 (1993)), and neutrophils, and, less so, on hepatocytes and basal keratinocytes (see Yokosaki et al., J. Biol. Chem., 269,24144 (1994)). Neutrophils, in particular, are intimately involved in acute inflammatory repsonses. Attenuation of neutrophil involvement and/or activation would have the effect of lessening the inflammation. Thus, inhibition of α9β1 binding to its respective ligands would be expected to have a positive effect in the treatment of acute inflammatory conditions.

[0008] Neutralizing anti-α₄ antibodies or blocking peptides that inhibit the interaction between VLA-4 and/or α₄β₇ and their ligands have proven efficacious both prophylactically and therapeutically in several animal models of disease, including i) experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, a model of neuronal demyelination resembling multiple sclerosis (for example, see T. Yednock et al., “Prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by antibodies against α₄β₁ integrin.” Nature, 356, 63 (1993) and E. Keszthelyi et al., “Evidence for a prolonged role of a₄ integrin throughout active experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.” Neurology, 47, 1053 (1996)); ii) bronchial hyperresponsiveness in sheep and guinea pigs as models for the various phases of asthma (for example, see W. M. Abraham et al., “α₄-Integrins mediate antigen-induced late bronchial responses and prolonged airway hyperresponsiveness in sheep.” J. Clin. Invest. 93, 776 (1993) and A. A. Y. Milne and P. P. Piper, “Role of VLA-4 integrin in leucocyte recruitment and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in the gunea-pig.” Eur. J. Pharmacol., 282, 243 (1995)); iii) adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats as a model of inflammatory arthritis (see C. Barbadillo et al., “Anti-VLA-4 mAb prevents adjuvant arthritis in Lewis rats.” Arthr. Rheuma. (Suppl.), 36 95 (1993) and D. Seiffge, “Protective effects of monoclonal antibody to VLA-4 on leukocyte adhesion and course of disease in adjuvant arthritis in rats.” J. Rheumatol., 23, 12 (1996)); iv) adoptive autoimmune diabetes in the NOD mouse (see J. L. Baron et al., “The pathogenesis of adoptive murine autoimmune diabetes requires an interaction between a4-integrins and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1.”, J. Clin. Invest., 93, 1700 (1994), A. Jakubowski et al., “Vascular cell adhesion molecule-Ig fusion protein selectively targets activated α4-integrin receptors in vivo: Inhibition of autoimmune diabetes in an adoptive transfer model in nonobese diabetic mice.” J. Immunol., 155, 938 (1995), and X. D. Yang et al., “Involvement of beta 7 integrin and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MadCAM-1) in the development of diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice”, Diabetes, 46, 1542 (1997)); v) cardiac allograft survival in mice as a model of organ transplantation (see M. Isobe et al., “Effect of anti-VCAM-1 and anti-VLA-4 monoclonal antibodies on cardiac allograft survival and response to soluble antigens in mice.”, Tranplant. Proc., 26, 867 (1994) and S. Molossi et al., “Blockade of very late antigen-4 integrin binding to fibronectin with connecting segment-1 peptide reduces accelerated coronary arteripathy in rabbit cardiac allografts.” J. Clin Invest., 95, 2601 (1995)); vi) spontaneous chronic colitis in cotton-top tamarins which resembles human ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease (see D. K. Podolsky et al., “Attenuation of colitis in the Cotton-top tamarin by anti-α₄ integrin monoclonal antibody.”, J. Clin. Invest., 92, 372 (1993)); vii) contact hypersensitivity models as a model for skin allergic reactions (see T. A. Ferguson and T. S. Kupper, “Antigen-independent processes in antigen-specific immunity.”, J. Immunol., 150, 1172 (1993) and P. L. Chisholm et al., “Monoclonal antibodies to the integrin a-4 subunit inhibit the murine contact hypersensitivity response.” Eur. J. Immunol., 23, 682 (1993)); viii) acute neurotoxic nephritis (see M. S. Mulligan et al., “Requirements for leukocyte adhesion molecules in nephrotoxic nephritis.”, J. Clin. Invest., 91, 577 (1993)); ix) tumor metastasis (for examples, see M. Edward, “Integrins and other adhesion molecules involved in melanocytic tumor progression.”, Curr. Opin. Oncol., 7, 185 (1995)); x) experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (see R. W. McMurray et al., “The role of α4 integrin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in murine experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.” Autoimmunity, 23, 9 (1996); and xi) ischemic tissue damage following arterial occlusion in rats (see F. Squadrito et al., “Leukocyte integrin very late antigen-4/vascular cell adhesion molecule-I adhesion pathway in splanchnic artery occlusion shock.” Eur. J. Pharmacol., 318, 153 (1996; xii) inhibition of TH2 T-cell cytokine production including IL-4 and IL-5 by VLA-4 antibodies which would attenuate allergic responses (J.Clinical Investigation 100, 3083 (1997). The primary mechanism of action of such antibodies appears to be the inhibition of lymphocyte and monocyte interactions with CAMs associated with components of the extracellular matrix, thereby limiting leukocyte migration to extravascular sites of injury or inflammation and/or limiting the priming and/or activation of leukocytes.

[0009] There is additional evidence supporting a possible role for VLA-4 interactions in other diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis; various melanomas, carcinomas, and sarcomas, including multiple myeloma; inflammatory lung disorders; acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); pulmonary fibrosis; atherosclerotic plaque formation; restenosis; uveitis; and circulatory shock (for examples, see A. A. Postigo et al., “The α₄β₁/VCAM-1 adhesion pathway in physiology and disease.”, Res. Immunol., 144, 723 (1994) and J. -X. Gao and A. C. Issekutz, “Expression of VCAM-1 and VLA-4 dependent T-lymphocyte adhesion to dermal fibroblasts stimulated with proinflammatory cytokines.” Immunol. 89, 375 (1996)).

[0010] At present, there is a humanized monoclonal antibody (Antegren®, Athena Neurosciences/Elan ) against VLA-4 in clinical development for the treatment of “flares” associated with multiple sclerosis and a humanized monoclonal antibody (ACT-1®/LDP-02 LeukoSite) against α₄β₇ in clinical development for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Several antagonists of VLA-4 and α4β7 have been described (D. Y. Jackson et al., “Potent α4β1 peptide antagonists as potential anti-inflammatory agents”, J. Med. Chem., 40, 3359 (1997); H. N. Shroff et al., “Small peptide inhibitors of α4β7 mediated MadCAM-1 adhesion to lymphocytes”, Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 6, 2495 (1996); K. C. Lin et al., “Selective, tight-binding inhibitors of integrin α4β1 that inhibit allergic airway responses”, J. Med. Chem., 42, 920 (1999); U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,332, WO97/03094, WO97/02289, WO96/40781, WO96/22966, WO96/20216, WO96/01644, WO96/06108, WO95/15973). There are reports of nonpeptidyl inhibitors of the ligands for α₄-integrins (WO99/36393, WO98/58902, WO96/31206); A. J. Soures et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett., 8, 2297 (1998). There still remains a need for low molecular weight, specific inhibitors of VLA-4- and α4β7-dependent cell adhesion that have improved pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties such as oral bioavailability and significant duration of action. Such compounds would prove to be useful for the treatment, prevention or suppression of various pathologies mediated by VLA-4 and α4β7 binding and cell adhesion and activation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides novel compounds of Formula I

[0012] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein:

[0013] X is 1) -S-,

[0014] 2) -S(O)m-,

[0015] Y is 1) a bond, or

[0016] 2) -C(R⁷)(R⁸)-

[0017] m is an integer from 1 to 2;

[0018] n is an integer from 1 to 10;

[0019] p is a number chosen from 0, 1, 2, or 3;

[0020] R¹ is 1) hydrogen, provided X is S,

[0021] 2) C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0022] 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyl,

[0023] 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyl,

[0024] 5) Cy, or

[0025] 9) -NR^(d)R^(e),

[0026] wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(a), and Cy is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(b);

[0027] R² is 1) hydrogen,

[0028] 2) C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0029] 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, and

[0030] 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyl,

[0031] wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(a);

[0032] R³ is 1) C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0033] 2) Ar¹,

[0034] 3) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0035] 4) Ar¹-Ar²,

[0036] 5) Ar¹- Ar²-C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0037] wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(a), and Ar¹ and Ar² are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(b),

[0038] R⁴ is 1) hydrogen,

[0039] 2) C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0040] 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyl,

[0041] 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyl,

[0042] wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(a);

[0043] R⁵ is 1) hydroxy,

[0044] 2) C₁₋₁₀alkoxy,

[0045] 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyloxy,

[0046] 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyloxy,

[0047] 5) Cy—O—,

[0048] 6) Cy-C₁₋₁₀alkoxy,

[0049] 7) amino,

[0050] 8) C₁₋₁₀alkylamino,

[0051] 9) di(C₁₋₁₀alkyl)amino,

[0052] 10) Cy-C₁₋₁₀alkylamino,

[0053] wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(a), and Cy is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(b);

[0054] R⁶ is 1) hydrogen,

[0055] 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,

[0056] 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl,

[0057] 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl,

[0058] 5) Cy

[0059] 6) -S(O)_(m)R^(d),

[0060] 7) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0061] 8) -C(O)R^(d),

[0062] 9) -CO₂R^(d),

[0063] 10) -CO₂(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)CONR^(d)R^(e), or

[0064] 11) -C(O)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0065] wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(a), and Cy is optionally substituted with one to four substituents indepdently selected from R^(b); or

[0066] R⁶ and an Rh attached to the carbon atom adjacent to the ring nitrogen together complete a 4-8 membered ring optionally containing one other heteroatom chosen from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur;

[0067] R⁷ is 1) hydrogen,

[0068] 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,

[0069] 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl,

[0070] 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl,

[0071] 5) Ar¹,

[0072] 6) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0073] 7) -OR^(d),

[0074] 8) -O(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0075] 9) -OC(O)R^(d),

[0076] 10) -OC(O)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0077] 11) halogen,

[0078] 12) -SR^(d),

[0079] 13) -S(O)_(m)R^(d),

[0080] 14) -S(O)₂OR^(d),

[0081] 15) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0082] 16) -NO₂,

[0083]17) -NR^(d)R^(e),

[0084] 18) -NR^(d)C(O)R^(e),

[0085] 19) -NR^(d)S(O)_(m)R^(e),

[0086] 20) -NR^(d)C(O)OR^(e), or

[0087] 21) -NR^(d)C(O)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0088] wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and Arn are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c);

[0089] R⁸ is 1) hydrogen,

[0090] 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,

[0091] 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl,

[0092] 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl,

[0093] 5) Cy, or

[0094] 6) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0095] wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, Cy and Ar¹ are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c);

[0096] R^(a) is 1) halogen,

[0097] 2) -OR^(d),

[0098] 3) -OC(O)R^(d),

[0099] 4) -OC(O)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0100] 5) -O(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0101] 6) -SR^(d),

[0102] 7) -S(O)_(m)R^(d),

[0103] 8) -S(O)₂OR^(d),

[0104] 9) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0105] 10) -NR^(d)R^(e),

[0106] 11) -NR^(d)C(O)R^(e),

[0107] 12) -NR^(d)C(O)OR^(e),

[0108] 13) -NR^(d)C(O)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0109] 14) -C(O)R^(d),

[0110] 15) -CO₂R^(d),

[0111] 16) -C(O)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0112] 17) -CO₂(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)CONR^(d)R^(e),

[0113] 18) -CN,

[0114] 19) -CR^(d)(N—OR^(e)),

[0115] 20) -NO₂,

[0116] 21) CF₃,

[0117] 22) -OCF₃, or

[0118] 23) Cy optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(c);

[0119] R^(b) is 1) a group selected from R^(a),

[0120] 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,

[0121] 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl,

[0122] 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, or

[0123] 8) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀alkyl,

[0124] wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and Ar¹ are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c);

[0125] R^(c) is 1) halogen,

[0126] 2) amino,

[0127] 3) C₁₋₄alkylamino,

[0128] 4) di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino,

[0129] 5) carboxy,

[0130] 6) cyano,

[0131] 7) C₁₋₄alkyl,

[0132] 8) aryl, C₁₋₄alkyl,

[0133] 9) Ar¹,

[0134] 10) hydroxy,

[0135] 11) C₁₋₄alkoxy,

[0136] 12) aryloxy, or

[0137] 13) CF₃;

[0138] R^(d) and R^(e) are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₁₀alkyl, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, Cy and Cy C₁₋₁₀alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and Cy are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(c); or

[0139] R^(d) and R^(e) together with the atoms to which they are attached form a heterocyclic ring of 4 to 7 members containing 0-2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen;

[0140] R^(f) and R^(g) are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₁₀alkyl, Cy and Cy-C₁₋₁₀alkyl; or

[0141] R^(f) and R^(g) together with the carbon to which they are attached form a ring of 4 to 7 members containing 0-2 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen;

[0142] R^(h) is 1) a group selected from R^(a),

[0143] 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,

[0144] 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl,

[0145] 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl,

[0146] 5) Cy,

[0147] 6) oxo,

[0148] wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and Cy are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c); or

[0149] two R^(h) groups attached to adjacent ring atoms together complete 4-8 membered aromatic or non-aromatic ring containing 0-2 heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen; or

[0150] two R^(h) groups attached to the same ring atom together complete a 4-8 membered ring containing 0-2 heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen;

[0151] with the proviso that when R^(h) is chosen from

[0152] 1) -OR^(d),

[0153] 2) -OC(O)R^(d),

[0154] 3) -OC(O)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0155] 4) -O(CR^(f)R^(g) )_(n)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0156] 5) -SR^(d),

[0157] 6) -S(O)_(m)R^(d),

[0158] 7) -S(O)₂OR^(d),

[0159] 8) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e),

[0160] 9) -NR^(d)R^(e),

[0161] 10) -NR^(d)C(O)R^(e),

[0162] 11) -NR^(d)C(O)OR^(e),

[0163] 12) NR^(d)C(O)NR^(d)R^(e), or

[0164] 13) -NO₂,

[0165] 14) halogen,

[0166] 15) -CN, and

[0167] 16) -CR^(d)(N—OR^(e)),

[0168] it is not attached to an atom adjacent to the ring nitrogen;

[0169] Cy is cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl;

[0170] Ar¹ and Ar² are independently selected from aryl and heteroaryl.

[0171] In one subset of compounds of formula I, X is S or SO₂. In one preferred embodiment X is S. In another preferred embodiment X is SO₂.

[0172] In another subset of compounds of formula I, Y is a bond.

[0173] In another subset of compounds of formula 1, R¹ is C₁₋₁₀ alkyl optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(a), or Cy optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(b). In one preferred embodiment R¹ is aryl or heteroaryl each optionally substituted with one to two substituents selected from R^(b); more preferably R¹ is phenyl optionally substituted with one or two substituents selected from halogen and NR^(d)R^(e). Examples of R¹ include cyclohexyl, phenyl, 4-bromophenyl, 3-bromophenyl, 2-bromophenyl, 4-(benzylamino) phenyl, 3-(benzylamino)phenyl, 4-(1-pyrrolidinyl)phenyl, 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl) phenyl, benzyl, 1-methyl-4-imidazolyl, 1-methyl-5-imidazolyl, methyl, 2-(1-piperidinyl) ethyl, 2-(4-morpholinyl)ethyl, 2-(3-(dimethylamino)propylamino)ethyl, 3-nitropropyl, 2-(1-imidazolyl)ethyl, and 2-hydroxyethyl.

[0174] In another subset of compounds of formula I, R² and R⁴ are each hydrogen.

[0175] In another subset of compounds of formula I, R³ is Ar¹-C₁₋₃alkyl or Ar¹-Ar²-C₁₋₃alkyl; more preferably, R³ is Ar¹-CH₂ or Ar¹-Ar²-CH₂; Ar¹ and Ar² are each optionally substituted with one to four groups independently selected from R^(b). Even more preferred R³ is optionally substituted benzyl or optionally substituted Ar²-benzyl, where Ar² is optionally substituted phenyl, or optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl. Even more preferred R³ is benzyl, benzyl substituted with a group selected from hydroxy, C₁₋₅alkoxy, NHC(O)R^(e), OC(O)NR^(d)R^(e), and C(O)NR^(d)R^(e), or 4-(Ar²)-benzyl wherein Ar² is phenyl substituted with one to two groups selected from C₁₋₅alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₅alkoxy and NR^(d)R^(e), or Ar2 is 2-ethyl-4-thiazolyl. Most preferably, R⁴ is 4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)benzyl. Examples of R³ include 4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)benzyl, 4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)benzyl, 4-(2′-cyanophenyl) benzyl, 4-(2′-cyano-6′-methoxyphenyl)benzyl, 4-(2′-hydroxy-6′-methoxyphenyl) benzyl, 4-(2′-dimethylamino-6′-methoxyphenyl)benzyl, 4-(2′-ethyl-6′-methoxyphenyl) benzyl, benzyl, 4-hydroxybenzyl, 4-(2,6-dichlorobenzoylamino)-benzyl, 4-(1-pyrrolidincarbonyloxy)benzyl, 4-(1-piperazinecarbonyl)benzyl, 4-(2-ethyl-4-thiazolyl) benzyl, 2-hydroxy-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)benzyl and 2-nitro-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)benzyl.

[0176] In another subset of compounds of formula I, R⁵ is OH.

[0177] In another subset of compounds of formula I, R⁶ is H or C₁₋₅alkyl or phenyl. Examples of R⁶ include hydrogen, methyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, ethyl, and phenyl.

[0178] In a preferred embodiment of formula I are compounds of formula Ia:

[0179] wherein R1, R6 and R^(b) are as defined under formula I.

[0180] Examples of compounds of the present invention include:

Ex. R¹ R⁶ R^(b1)/R^(b2) 1 Ph CH₃ H/H 2 Ph Ph H/H 3 Ph CH₃ H/OCH₃ 4 c-Hex CH₃ H/OCH₃ 5 Ph CH₂H₃ H/OCH₃ 6 Ph H H/OCH₃ 7 Ph n-C₄H₉ H/OCH₃ 8 Ph C(CH₃)₃ H/OCH₃ 9 Ph Ph H/OCH₃ 10  Ph CH₃ OCH₃/OCH₃

[0181] “Alkyl”, as well as other groups having the prefix “alk”, such as alkoxy, alkanoyl, means; carbon chains which may be linear or branched or combinations thereof. Examples of alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec - and tert -butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, and the like.

[0182] “Alkenyl” means carbon chains which contain at least one carbon-carbon double bond, and which may be linear or branched or combinations thereof. Examples of alkenyl include vinyl, allyl, isopropenyl, pentenyl, hexenyl, heptenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, and the like.

[0183] “Alkynyl” means carbon chains which contain at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, and which may be linear or branched or combinations thereof. Examples of alkynyl include ethynyl, propargyl, 3-methyl-1-pentynyl, 2-heptynyl and the like.

[0184] “Cycloalkyl” means mono- or bicyclic saturated carbocyclic rings, each of which having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms. The term also includes monocyclic rings fused to an aryl group in which the point of attachment is on the non-aromatic portion. Examples of cycloalkyl include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, decahydronaphthyl, indanyl, and the like.

[0185] “Aryl” means mono- or bicyclic aromatic rings containing only carbon atoms. The term also includes aryl group fused to a monocyclic cycloalkyl or monocyclic heterocyclyl group in which the point of attachment is on the aromatic portion. Examples of aryl include phenyl, naphthyl, indanyl, indenyl, tetrahydronaphthyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, dihydrobenzopyranyl, 1,4-benzodioxanyl, and the like.

[0186] “Heteroaryl” means a mono- or bicyclic aromatic ring containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, O and S, with each ring containing 5 to 6 atoms. Examples of heteroaryl include pyrrolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, pyrazolyl, pyridyl, oxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, triazinyl, thienyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl, benzoxazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzofuranyl, benzothiophenyl, furo(2,3-b)pyridyl, quinolyl, indolyl, isoquinolyl, and the like.

[0187] “Heterocyclyl” means mono- or bicyclic saturated rings containing at least one heteroatom selected from N, S and O, each of said ring having from 3 to 10 atoms in which the point of attachment may be carbon or nitrogen. The term also includes monocyclic heterocycle fused to an aryl or heteroaryl group in which the point of attachment is on the non-aromatic portion. Examples of “heterocyclyl” include pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, imidazolidinyl, 2,3-dihydrofuro(2,3-b) pyridyl, benzoxazinyl, tetrahydrohydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, dihydroindolyl, and the like. The term also includes partially unsaturated monocyclic rings that are not aromatic, such as 2- or 4-pyridones attached through the nitrogen or N-substituted-( 1H,3H)-pyrimidine-2,4-diones (N-substituted uracils).

[0188] “Halogen” includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

[0189] Optical Isomers—Diastereomers—Geometric Isomers—Tautomers

[0190] Compounds of Formula I contain one or more asymmetric centers and can thus occur as racemates and racemic mixtures, single enantiomers, diastereomeric mixtures and individual diastereomers. The present invention is meant to comprehend all such isomeric forms of the compounds of Formula I.

[0191] Some of the compounds described herein contain olefinic double bonds, and unless specified otherwise, are meant to include both E and Z geometric isomers.

[0192] Some of the compounds described herein may exist with different points of attachment of hydrogen, referred to as tautomers. Such an example may be a ketone and its enol form known as keto-enol tautomers. The individual tautomers as well as mixture thereof are encompassed with compounds of Formula I.

[0193] Compounds of the Formula I may be separated into diastereoisomeric pairs of enantiomers by, for example, fractional crystallization from a suitable solvent, for example methanol or ethyl acetate or a mixture thereof. The pair of enantiomers thus obtained may be separated into individual stereoisomers by conventional means, for example by the use of an optically active acid as a resolving agent.

[0194] Alternatively, any enantiomer of a compound of the general Formula I or Ia may be obtained by stereospecific synthesis using optically pure starting materials or reagents of known configuration.

[0195] Salts

[0196] The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases or acids including inorganic or organic bases and inorganic or organic acids. Salts derived from inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous, potassium, sodium, zinc, and the like. Particularly preferred are the ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines, and basic ion exchange resins, such as arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethyl-morpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropyl amine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tromethamine, and the like.

[0197] When the compound of the present invention is basic, salts may be prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids, including inorganic and organic acids. Such acids include acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and the like. Particularly preferred are citric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, maleic, phosphoric, sulfuric, and tartaric acids.

[0198] It will be understood that, as used herein, references to the compounds of Formula I are meant to also include the pharmaceutically acceptable salts.

[0199] Utilities

[0200] The ability of the compounds of Formula I to antagonize the actions of VLA-4 and/or α4β7 integrin makes them useful for preventing or reversing the symptoms, disorders or diseases induced by the binding of VLA-4 and or α4β7to their various respective ligands. Thus, these antagonists will inhibit cell adhesion processes including cell activation, migration, proliferation and differentiation. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention provides a method for the treatment (including prevention, alleviation, amelioration or suppression) of diseases or disorders or symptoms mediated by VLA-4 and/or α4β7 binding and cell adhesion and activation, which comprises administering to a mammal an effective amount of a compound of Formula I. Such diseases, disorders, conditions or symptoms are for example (1) multiple sclerosis, (2) asthma, (3) allergic rhinitis, (4) allergic conjunctivitis, (5) inflammatory lung diseases, (6) rheumatoid arthritis, (7) septic arthritis, (8) type I diabetes, (9) organ transplantation rejection, (10) restenosis, (11) autologous bone marrow transplantation, (12) inflammatory sequelae of viral infections, (13) myocarditis, (14) inflammatory bowel disease including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, (15) certain types of toxic and immune-based nephritis, (16) contact dermal hypersensitivity, (17) psoriasis, (18) tumor metastasis, and (19) atherosclerosis.

[0201] Dose Ranges

[0202] The magnitude of prophylactic or therapeutic dose of a compound of Formula I will, of course, vary with the nature of the severity of the condition to be treated and with the particular compound of Formula I and its route of administration. It will also vary according to the age, weight and response of the individual patient. In general, the daily dose range lie within the range of from about 0.001 mg to about 100 mg per kg body weight of a mammal, preferably 0.01 mg to about 50 mg per kg, and most preferably 0.1 to 10 mg per kg, in single or divided doses. On the other hand, it may be necessary to use dosages outside these limits in some cases.

[0203] For use where a composition for intravenous administration is employed, a suitable dosage range is from about 0.001 mg to about 25 mg (preferably from 0.01 mg to about 1 mg) of a compound of Formula I per kg of body weight per day and for cytoprotective use from about 0.1 mg to about 100 mg (preferably from about 1 mg to about 100 mg and more preferably from about 1 mg to about 10 mg) of a compound of Formula I per kg of body weight per day.

[0204] In the case where an oral composition is employed, a suitable dosage range is, e.g. from about 0.01 mg to about 100 mg of a compound of Formula I per kg of body weight per day, preferably from about 0.1 mg to about 10 mg per kg and for cytoprotective use from 0.1 mg to about 100 mg (preferably from about 1 mg to about 100 mg and more preferably from about 10 mg to about 100 mg) of a compound of Formula I per kg of body weight per day.

[0205] For the treatment of diseases of the eye, ophthalmic preparations for ocular administration comprising 0.001-1% by weight solutions or suspensions of the compounds of Formula I in an acceptable ophthalmic formulation may be used.

[0206] Pharmaceutical Compositions

[0207] Another aspect of the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions which comprises a compound of Formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The term “composition”, as in pharmaceutical composition, is intended to encompass a product comprising the active ingredient(s), and the inert ingredient(s) (pharmaceutically acceptable excipients) that make up the carrier, as well as any product which results, directly or indirectly, from combination, complexation or aggregation of any two or more of the ingredients, or from dissociation of one or more of the ingredients, or from other types of reactions or interactions of one or more of the ingredients. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention encompass any composition made by admixing a compound of Formula I, additional active ingredient(s), and pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.

[0208] Any suitable route of administration may be employed for providing a mammal, especially a human with an effective dosage of a compound of the present invention. For example, oral, rectal, topical, parenteral, ocular, pulmonary, nasal, and the like may be employed. Dosage forms include tablets, troches, dispersions, suspensions, solutions, capsules, creams, ointments, aerosols, and the like.

[0209] The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention comprise a compound of Formula I as an active ingredient or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and may also contain a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and optionally other therapeutic ingredients. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to salts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases or acids including inorganic bases or acids and organic bases or acids.

[0210] The compositions include compositions suitable for oral, rectal, topical, parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous), ocular (ophthalmic), pulmonary (aerosol inhalation), or nasal administration, although the most suitable route in any given case will depend on the nature and severity of the conditions being treated and on the nature of the active ingredient. They may be conveniently presented in unit dosage form and prepared by any of the methods well-known in the art of pharmacy.

[0211] For administration by inhalation, the compounds of the present invention are conveniently delivered in the form of an aerosol spray presentation from pressurized packs or nebulisers. The compounds may also be delivered as powders which may be formulated and the powder composition may be inhaled with the aid of an insufflation powder inhaler device. The preferred delivery systems for inhalation are metered dose inhalation (MDI) aerosol, which may be formulated as a suspension or solution of a compound of Formula I in suitable propellants, such as fluorocarbons or hydrocarbons and dry powder inhalation (DPI) aerosol, which may be formulated as a dry powder of a compound of Formula I with or without additional excipients.

[0212] Suitable topical formulations of a compound of formula I include transdermal devices, aerosols, creams, ointments, lotions, dusting powders, and the like.

[0213] In practical use, the compounds of Formula I can be combined as the active ingredient in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutical carrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques. The carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration, e.g., oral or parenteral (including intravenous). In preparing the compositions for oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations, such as, for example, suspensions, elixirs and solutions; or carriers such as starches, sugars, microcrystalline cellulose, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of oral solid preparations such as, for example, powders, capsules and tablets, with the solid oral preparations being preferred over the liquid preparations. Because of their ease of administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. If desired, tablets may be coated by standard aqueous or nonaqueous techniques.

[0214] In addition to the common dosage forms set out above, the compounds of Formula I may also be administered by controlled release means and/or delivery devices such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,845,770; 3,916,899; 3,536,809; 3,598,123; 3,630,200 and 4,008,719.

[0215] Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention suitable for oral administration may be presented as discrete units such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing a predetermined amount of the active ingredient, as a powder or granules or as a solution or a suspension in an aqueous liquid, a non-aqueous liquid, an oil-in-water emulsion or a water-in-oil liquid emulsion. Such compositions may be prepared by any of the methods of pharmacy but all methods include the step of bringing into association the active ingredient with the carrier which constitutes one or more necessary ingredients. In general, the compositions are prepared by uniformly and intimately admixing the active ingredient with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product into the desired presentation. For example, a tablet may be prepared by compression or molding, optionally with one or more accessory ingredients. Compressed tablets may be prepared by compressing in a suitable machine, the active ingredient in a free-flowing form such as powder or granules, optionally mixed with a binder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface active or dispersing agent. Molded tablets may be made by molding in a suitable machine, a mixture of the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent. Desirably, each tablet contains from about 1 mg to about 500 mg of the active ingredient and each cachet or capsule contains from about 1 to about 500 mg of the active ingredient.

[0216] The following are examples of representative pharmaceutical dosage forms for the compounds of Formula I: Injectable Suspension (I.M.) mg/mL Compound of Formula I 10 Methylcellulose 5.0 Tween 80 0.5 Benzyl alcohol 9.0 Benzalkonium chloride 1.0 Water for injection to a total volume of 1 mL

[0217] Tablet mg/tablet Compound of Formula I  25 Microcrystalline Cellulose 415 Povidone  14.0 Pregelatinized Starch  43.5 Magnesium Stearate  2.5 500 Capsule mg/capsule Compound of Formula I  25 Lactose Powder 573.5 Magnesium Stearate  1.5 600 Aerosol Per canister Compound of Formula I  24 mg Lecithin, NF Liquid Conc.  1.2 mg Trichlorofluoromethane, NF  4.025 g Dichlorodifluoromethane, NF  12.15 g

[0218] Combination Therapy

[0219] Compounds of Formula I may be used in combination with other drugs that are used in the treatment/prevention/suppression or amelioration of the diseases or conditions for which compounds of Formula I are useful. Such other drugs may be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefor, contemporaneously or sequentially with a compound of Formula I. When a compound of Formula I is used contemporaneously with one or more other drugs, a pharmaceutical composition containing such other drugs in addition to the compound of Formula I is preferred. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include those that also contain one or more other active ingredients, in addition to a compound of Formula I. Examples of other active ingredients that may be combined with a compound of Formula I, either administered separately or in the same pharmaceutical compositions, include, but are not limited to: (a) other VLA-4 antagonists such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,332, WO97/03094, WO97/02289, WO96/40781, WO96/22966, WO96/20216, WO96/01644, WO96/06108, WO95/15973 and WO96/31206; (b) steroids such as beclomethasone, methylprednisolone, betamethasone, prednisone, dexamethasone, and hydrocortisone; (c) immunosuppressants such as cyclosporin, tacrolimus, rapamycin and other FK-506 type immunosuppressants; (d) antihistamines (HI-histamine antagonists) such as bromopheniramine, chlorpheniramine, dexchlorpheniramine, triprolidine, clemastine, diphenhydramine, diphenylpyraline, tripelennamine, hydroxyzine, methdilazine, promethazine, trimeprazine, azatadine, cyproheptadine, antazoline, pheniramine pyrilamine, astemizole, terfenadine, loratadine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, descarboethoxyloratadine, and the like; (e) non-steroidal anti-asthmatics such as ,2-agonists (terbutaline, metaproterenol, fenoterol, isoetharine, albuterol, bitolterol, salmeterol and pirbuterol), theophylline, cromolyn sodium, atropine, ipratropium bromide, leukotriene antagonists (zafirlukast, montelukast, pranlukast, iralukast, pobilukast, SKB-106,203), leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitors (zileuton, BAY-1005); (f) non-steroidal antuinflammatory agents (NSAIDs) such as propionic acid derivatives (alminoprofen, benoxaprofen, bucloxic acid, carprofen, fenbufen, fenoprofen, fluprofen, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen, indoprofen, ketoprofen, miroprofen, naproxen, oxaprozin, pirprofen, pranoprofen, suprofen, tiaprofenic acid, and tioxaprofen), acetic acid derivatives (indomethacin, acemetacin, alclofenac, clidanac, diclofenac, fenclofenac, fenclozic acid, fentiazac, furofenac, ibufenac, isoxepac, oxpinac, sulindac, tiopinac, tolmetin, zidometacin, and zomepirac), fenamic acid derivatives (flufenamic acid, meclofenamic acid, mefenamic acid, niflumic acid and tolfenamic acid), biphenylcarboxylic acid derivatives (diflunisal and flufenisal), oxicams (isoxicam, piroxicam, sudoxicam and tenoxican), salicylates (acetyl salicylic acid, sulfasalazine) and the pyrazolones (apazone, bezpiperylon, feprazone, mofebutazone, oxyphenbutazone, phenylbutazone); (g) cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors such as celecoxib and rofecoxib; (h) inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type IV (PDE-IV) such as Ariflo and roflumilast; (i) antagonists of the chemokine receptors, especially CCR-1, CCR-2, and CCR-3; (j) cholesterol lowering agents such as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (lovastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, and other statins), sequestrants (cholestyramine and colestipol), nicotinic acid, fenofibric acid derivatives (gemfibrozil, clofibrat, fenofibrate and benzafibrate), and probucol; (k) anti-diabetic agents such as insulin, sulfonylureas, biguanides (metformin), u-glucosidase inhibitors (acarbose) and glitazones (troglitazone, pioglitazone, englitazone, rosiglitazone, MCC-555, BR149653 and the like); (1) preparations of interferon beta (interferon beta-1a, interferon beta-1b); (m) anticholinergic agents such as muscarinic antagonists (ipratropium bromide and tiotropium bromide) and selective muscarinic M3 receptor antagonists such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,792; (n) other compounds such as 5-aminosalicylic acid and prodrugs thereof, antimetabolites such as azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine, and cytotoxic cancer chemotherapeutic agents.

[0220] The weight ratio of the compound of the Formula I to the second active ingredient may be varied and will depend upon the effective dose of each ingredient. Generally, an effective dose of each will be used. Thus, for example, when a compound of the Formula I is combined with an NSAID the weight ratio of the compound of the Formula I to the NSAID will generally range from about 1000:1 to about 1:1000, preferably about 200:1 to about 1:200. Combinations of a compound of the Formula I and other active ingredients will generally also be within the aforementioned range, but in each case, an effective dose of each active ingredient should be used.

[0221] Compounds of the present invention may be prepared by procedures illustrated in the accompanying schemes. 4-Substituted isonipecotic acid derivatives may be prepared first by treatment of a isonipecotic acid ester with strong base such as sodium hexamethyldisilazide or lithium dilsopropylamide followed by addition of a sulfonylating or thiolating agent (Scheme 1). Deprotection of the ester would follow as described: TFA for a tert-butyl ester or hydroxide treatment for a methyl or ethyl ester.

[0222] Alternatively, a 4-sulfonyl- substituted isonipecotyl ester may be prepared by cyclo-alkylation of a sulfonyl-acetate derivative as shown in Scheme 2. A 2-sulfonyl-acetic acid, ester A is treated with a bis-hydroxyalkyl-amine under Mitsunobu reaction conditions (1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)dipiperidine (ADDP); tributylphosphine) to form 4-sulfonylated-isonipecotyl ester B. Ester hydrolysis would be performed as above.

[0223] A resin-based synthetic strategy is outlined in Scheme 3 where the resin employed is represented by the ball (

). An N-Fmoc-protected amino acid derivative A (Fmoc=fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) is loaded on to the appropriate hydroxyl-containing resin (the choice of resin being dependent on type of linker used, in this case Wang resin was utilized) using 1-ethyl-3-(3′-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) in a solvent such as methylene chloride and teterahydrofuran or dimethylformamide (DMF) to give B. The Fmoc protecting group is removed with piperidine in DMF to yield free amine C. A nipecotic acid derivative D is then coupled to the amine using a reagent such as 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate (HIBTu) in the presence of HOBt and diisopropyl ethyl amine (DIEA) or any of the other well known amide coupling reagents under appropriate conditions: EDC, DCC or BOP (benzotriazole-1-yl-oxy-tris-(dimethylamino)-phosphoniumhexafluorophosphate) to give E. The final product is removed from the resin with strong acid (in this instance, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA in the presence of 5% water) to yield compounds of the present invention F.

[0224] A standard solution phase synthetic methodology is outlined in Scheme 4. Many amino acid derivatives are commercially available as the t-butyl or methyl esters and may be used directly in the synthesis outlined below. Amino acid t-butyl esters B may be prepared from amino acids C directly by treament with isobutylene and sulfuric acid in diglyme or dioxane. Alternatively, N-Boc-protected amino acid derivative A (Boc=tert-butyloxycarbonyl) is treated with tert-butyl 2,2,2-trichloroacetimidate in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate followed by treatment with strong acid (HCl in ethyl acetate or sulfuric acid in t-butyl acetate) to remove the t-BOC group to yield tert-butyl ester B which is subsequently coupled to carboxylic acid D in the presence of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC), HOBt, and diusopropylethylamine (DIEA) in methylene chloride to yield amide E. The ester is then hydrolysed (in the case of t-butyl ester with 50% TFA in methylene chloride and for the methyl ester by treatment with 1N sodium hydroxide solution in methanol or dioxane) to provide compounds of the present invention F.

[0225] A late stage intermediate aryl bromide or iodide is coupled to an appropriately substituted aryl or heteroaryl boronic acid to give a subset of compounds of the present invention (R³=biaryl-substituted-alkyl or heteroaryl-aryl-substituted-alkyl, R²=hydrogen) in Scheme 5. For example, 4-iodo or 4-bromo-phenyl-derivative A is converted to the t-butyl ester B by treatment with isobutylene and sulfuric acid. Alternatively the N-Boc-4-iodo- or 4-bromo-phenyl-derivative C is reacted with tert-butyl 2,2,2-trichloroacetimidate in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate in methylene chloride-cyclohexane followed by treatment with strong acid (HCl in ethyl acetate or sulfuric acid in t-butyl acetate) to remove the t-BOC group to yield tert-butyl ester B which is subsequently coupled with C in the presence of (for example) EDC, HOBt and NMM to yield amide E. Substituted aryl or heteroaryl boronic acids are coupled to E in the presence of a palladium(0) reagent, such as tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium under Suzuki conditions (N. Miyaura et al., Synth. Commun., 1981, 11, 513-519), followed by removal of the tert-butyl ester using a strong acid (TFA) to yield the desired prodcut F. If the aryl or heteroaryl boronic acid is not commercially available, but the corresponding bromide or iodide is, then the bromide or iodide can be converted into the desired boronic acid by treatment with an alkyllithium reagent in tetrahydrofuran at low temperature followed by addition of trimethyl or triisopropyl borate. Hydrolysis to the boronic acid can be effected by treatment of the intermediate with aqueous base and then acid.

[0226] Alternatively, the aryl coupling reaction may be performed by application of Stille-type carbon-carbon bond forming conditions (Scheme 6). (A. M. Echavarren and J. K. Stille, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 5478-5486). The aryl bromide or iodide intermediate A is converted into its trialkyltin derivative B using hexamethylditin in the presence of a palladium(0) catalyst and lithium chloride and then reacted with an appropriately substituted aryl or heteroaryl bromide, iodide, or triflate in the presence of a palladium reagent, such as tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium (0) or tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0), in a suitable solvent, such as toluene, dioxane, DMF, or 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, followed by the removal of the tert-butyl ester using strong acid (TFA) to yield the desired product C. Biphenyl amino acids suitable for attachment to resin (C where R₁ is fluorenylmethyloxy) may be prepared by this route as well. Superior coupling conversions and rates may be elicited by application of the method of Farina (J. Org. Chem. 5434, 1993)

[0227] Compounds wherein the middle ring is heteroaryl (G) may be prepared (Scheme 5) in a similar fashion starting from the appropriate heteroaryl bromide or iodide C using Suzuki-type conditions as depicted in Scheme 5 or from the corresponding heteroaryl trimethyltin using Stille-type conditions as depicted in Scheme 7. The requisite heteroaryl halides C may also be prepared via conventional electrophilic halogenation of the N-Boc-heteroaryl-alanine tert-butyl ester interrmediate B. B may be prepared from the known aliphatic iodo intermediate A in carbon-carbon bond formation using zinc/copper couple and palladium(II) (M. J. Dunn et al., SYNLETT 1993, 499-500).

[0228] A resin-based synthetic strategy that incorporates the methodology presented in Scheme 2 but on resin is outlined in Scheme 8 where the resin employed is represented by the ball (

). An N-Fmoc-protected amino acid derivative A (Fmoc =fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) is loaded on to the appropriate hydroxyl-containing resin (the choice of resin being dependent on type of linker used, in this case Wang resin was utilized) using 1-ethyl-3-(3′-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) in a solvent such as methylene chloride and teterahydrofuran or dimethylformamide (DMF) to give B. The Fmoc protecting group is removed with piperidine in DMF to yield free amine C. The free amine in C is acylated with 2-bromoacetic acid employing a coupling agent such as EDC or diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) to produce bromoacetamide D. Reaction with a alkyl or aryl thiol derivative in the presence of base (diisopropylethylamine, DEA) produces sulfide F. The sulfide F is oxidized with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA) to form sulfonylacetamid E. Reaction of E with a di-ethanolamine derivative under Mitsunobu reaction conditions 1,1′-(azodicarboxy)-dipiperidine (ADDP) and tributylphosphine produces the isonipecotyl derivative G is prepared. The final product is removed from the resin with strong acid (in this instance, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA in the presence of 5% water) to yield compounds of the present invention H.

Abbreviations Ac₂O acetic anhydride BF₃-Et₂O borontrifluoride etherate Bn benzyl BOC tert-butyloxycarbonyl BOC-ON 2-(tert-butoxycarbonyloxyimino)-2-Phenylacetonitrile BOP benzotriazol-1-yloxy-tris (dimethylamino)-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate t-Bu₃P tri-tert-butylphosphine CBZ benzyloxycarbonyl CH₂Cl₂ methylene chloride CH₃CN acetonitrile CH₃NO₂ nitromethane CsOH cesium hydroxide Cy₃P tricyclohexylphosphine DIBAL-H diisobutylaluminum hydride DBU 1,8-diazobicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene DCC dicyclohexylcarbodiimide DIEA N,N-diisopropylethylamine DMAP 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine DMF dimethylformamide DMSO dimethylsulfoxide EDC 1-(ethyl)-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride Et ethyl EtOAC ethyl acetate EtOH ethanol FMOC 9-fluorenylmethoxylcarbonyl H₂SO₄ sulfuric acid HATU O-(7-azabenzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate HBTU O-(benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3 -tetramethyluronium hexafluorophosphate HCl hydrochloric acid HOAt 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole HOBt 1-hydroxybenzotriazole HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography K₂CO₃ potassium carbonate KF potassium fluoride KI potassium iodide LDA lithium diisopropylamide m-CPBA meta-chloroperbenzoic acid Me methyl MeOH methanol MgSO₄ magnesium sulfate mmol millimole MPLC medium pressure liquid chromatography MsCl methanesulfonyl chloride NaHCO₃ sodium bicarbonate NaOH sodium hydroxide NBS N-bromosuccinimide Pd₂dba₃ tris(dibenzylideneacetone) dipalladium(O) Ph phenyl Ph₃P triphenylphosphine PyBOP (benzotriazol-1-yloxy)tripyrrolidinophosphonium hexafluorophosphate TBAF tetrabutylammonium fluoride TBSCl tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride TEA triethylamine TFA trifluoroacetic acid THF tetrahydrofuran TLC thin layer chromatography TMSCHN₂ trimethylsilyldiazomethane

[0229] Reference Example 1

[0230] (L)-4-(2′-Cyanophenyl)phenylalanine, methyl ester hydrochloride.

[0231] Step A (L)-4-Iodophenylalanine, methyl ester hydrochloride.

[0232] Thionyl chloride (3.6 mL, 50 mmol) was slowly added dropwise to a stirred flask containing methanol (6 mL) at 0° C. Ater the addition, solid N-BOC-(L)-4-iodophenylalanine (3.9 gm, 10 mmol) was added followed by more methanol (10 mL). The mixture was refluxed for 1.5 hr and then cooled to room temperature. The solution was taken to dryness by rotoevaporation and ether (20 mL) and heptane (5 mL) were added. The suspension was again taken to dryness by rotoevaporation and used in the subsequent reaction.

[0233] Step B N-BOC-(L)-4-Iodophenylalanine, methyl ester.

[0234] The product from Step A (10 mmol) was suspended in THF (20 mL) and methylene chloride (10 mL) at room temperature and triethylamine (2.1 mL, 11 mmol) was added. BOC-ON (2.7 gm, 11 mmo) was added and the solution stirred at room temperature for 5.5 hr. The solution was poured into a mixture of water (100 mL) and EtOAc (100 mL) and separated. The aqueous portion was extracted with EtOAc (2×50 mL). The combined organic extracts were washed successively with 5% citric acid (50 mL), saturated sodium bicarbonate solution (50 mL), and brine (50 mL) and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The mixture was filtered and concentrated to an oily residue which was dissolved in ether (50 mL) and placed in a freezer overnight. As no crystals precipitated, the solution was azeotroped with hexanes (2×50 mL) and the residue purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 10% EtOAc in hexanes. Concentration of the chromatography fractions yielded N-BOC-(L)-4-iodophenylalanine, methyl ester (3.1 gm).

[0235] Step C N-BOC-(L)-4-(Trimethylstannyl)phenylalanine, methyl ester.

[0236] To a degassed solution of N-BOC-(L)-4-iodophenylalanine, methyl ester (3.1 gm, 7.6 mmol), hexamethylditin (2.2 mL, 11.4 mmol), lithium chloride (0.5 gm, 11.4 mmol), and triphenylphosphine (40 mg, 0.2 mmol) in dioxane was added tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) (0.44 gm, 0.4 mmol). The solution was heated to 95° C. overnight under a dry nitrogen atmosphere. The solution was cooled to room temperature and diluted with EtOAc (100 mL) and successively washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and saturated brine. The solution was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated with dry silica gel. The dry powder was placed on a silica gel column and the product purifed by flash column chromatography eluted with 10% EtOAc in hexanes to yield N-BOC-(L)-4-(trimethyl-stannyl) phenylalanine, methyl ester (1.5 gm).

[0237] Step D N-BOC-(L)-4-(2′-Cyanophenyl)phenylalanine, methyl ester.

[0238] To a degassed solution of N-BOC-(L)-4-(trimethylstannyl)phenyl-alanine, methyl ester (1.4 gm,3.2 mmol) and 2-bromobenzonitrile (1.2 gm, 6.3 mmol) in DMF (8 mL) was added bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II)chloride (224 mg, 0.32 mmol). The stirred mixture was placed into a preheated oil bath (90° C.) and stirred for 3.5 hr. Heating was stopped and the solution allowed to cool. The solvent was removed by rotoevaporation and the residue dissolved in methylene chloride. The product was purifed on silica gel using a Biotage flash column chromatography apparatus eluted with 15% EtOAc in hexanes to yield N-BOC-(L)-4-(2′-cyanophenyl) phenylalanine, methyl ester (0.5 gm).

[0239] Step E (L)-4-(2′-Cyanophenyl)phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride.

[0240] Acetyl chloride (2 mL) was slowly added to a suspension of N-BOC-(L)-4-(2′-cyanophenyl) phenylalanine, methyl ester (0.5 gm, 1.3 mmol) in methanol (10 mL). The solution was stirred overnight at room temperature. The solvent was removed by rotoevaporation to yield (L)-4-(2′-cyanophenyl)phenylalanine, methyl ester hydrochloride (0.75 gm).

[0241] Reference Example 2

[0242] (L)-4-(2′-Cyanophenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride.

[0243] Step A N-BOC-(L)-4-Iodophenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0244] To a suspension of N-BOC-(L)-4-iodophenylalanine (BACBEM, 5.0 gm, 12.8 mmol) in methylene chloride (35 mL) and cyclohexane (70 mL) was added tert-butyl-2,2,2-trichloroacetimidate (2.93 gm, 13.4 mmol) followed by boron trifluoride (0.24 mL). The suspension was stirred at room temperature for 2 hr after which starting material still remained. Additional tert-butyl-2,2,2-trichloro-acetimidate (2.93 gm, 13.4 mmol) and boron trifluoride (0.24 mL) were added and the reaction mixture stirred at room temperature for four days. A third addition of tert-butyl-2,2,2-trichloroacetimidate (2.93 gm, 13.4 mmol) and boron trifluoride (0.24 mL) were added and the reaction mixture stirred at room temperature for 3 hr. The mixture was filtered through a Celite filter pad which was subsequently washed with fresh methylene chloride:cyclohexane (1:1, 2×25 mL). The solvent was removed by rotoevaporation and the residue purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 10% ether in hexane to yield N-BOC-(L)-4-iodophenylalanine, tert-butyl ester as a white crystalline solide (3.3 gm).

[0245] Step B (L)-4-(2′-Cyanophenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride.

[0246] N-BOC-(L)-4-iodophenylalanine, tert-butyl ester was converted to the title compound by the procedures described in Reference Example 1, Steps C through E.

[0247] Reference Example 3

[0248] (L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride.

[0249] Step A N-(BOC)-(L)-4-(2′-Methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0250] N-BOC-(L)-4-iodophenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (7.97 g (0.018 mol) was dissolved in 2:1 toluene:ethanol (160 mL). To this solution was added 2-methoxyphenylboronic acid (2.99 g, 20 mmol), tetrakistriphenylphosphine palladium(0) (0.69 g, 0.60 mmol) and a 2.0 M aqueous solution of sodium carbonate (22.7 mL, 0.45 mol). The reaction mixture was degassed three times and then heated at 90° C.for 90 minutes at which time the reaction mixture turned black. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (300 mL), washed with water (3×150 mL) and brine (2×100 mL), and dried over anhydrous MgSO₄. The mixture was filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 10% EtOAc in hexanes to give 6.89 g (88% yield) of N-(BOC)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester as a white solid. 300 MHz 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.45 (s, 18H); 3.10 (d, 2H); 3.80 (s, 3H); 4.5 (dd, 2H); 5.1 bd, 1H); 7.0 (m, 2H); 7.22 (d, 2H); 7.30 (d, 2H); 7.49 (d, 2H); 7.62 (d, 2H).

[0251] Step B (L)-4-(2′-Methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester HCl.

[0252] N-(BOC)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (8.64 g, 20 mmol) was dissolved in tert-butyl acetate (150 mL) and concentrated sulfuric acid (9.8 g, 100 mmol) was added thereto. The reaction mixture was stirred for 3 hours at room temperature and then diluted with ethyl acetate (150 mL). Addition of 1N NaOH was continued until the solution was basic. The aqueous phase was extracted with EtOAc (4×100 mL) and the combined organic phases were dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 100 mL of ether and treated with anhydrous HCl gas with cooling to give a white solid. The solid was recovered by filtration to give 5.8 g of (L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride. 400 MHz 1H-NMR (CD₃OD): 1.42 (s, 9H); 3.20 (d, 2H); 3.79 (s, 3H); 4.20 (t, 1H); 7.00 (t, 1H); 7.06 (d, 1H); 7.25 (dd, 1H); 7.32 (m, 3H); 7.50 (d, 2H).

[0253] Reference Example 4

[0254] (L)-4-[2′,6′-(Dimethoxyphenyl)]phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride.

[0255] Step A N-(BOC)-4-[(Trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxyl-(L)-phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0256] To a solution of of N-(BOC)-(L)-tyrosine, tert-butyl ester (18.5 g, 55 mmol) in 150 mL of dry methylene chloride was added pyridine (17.4 g, 220 mmol) followed at 0° C. by the dropwise addition of of neat triflic anhydride (18.6 g, 66 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° C. and monitored by TLC. After 4 hours, the mixture was diluted with 200 mL of methylene chloride, and washed successively with 1N HCl (3×100 mL), saturated sodium bicarbonate (2×100 mL) and brine (1×50 mL). The solution was dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give N-(BOC)-4-[(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy]-(L)-phenyl-alanine, tert-butyl ester as an oil which was used without further purification.

[0257] Step B N-(BOC)-(L)-4-[2′,6′-(Dimethoxvphenyl)]phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester, hydrochloride.

[0258] N-(BOC)-4-[(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy]-(L)-phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (Step A) was dissolved in a mixture of 125 mL of toluene and 61 mL of ethanol. To this solution was added 2,6-dimethoxyboronic acid (11.3 g, 62 mmol) and palladium tetrakistriphenylphosphine (2.5 g). The solution was treated with potassium carbonate (18.3 g, 133 mmol) dissolved in 30 mL of water. The mixture was heated to reflux over 4 hours, cooled to room temperature, and then diluted with 200 mL of ethyl acetate. The solution was washed with water (3×75 mL) and brine (1×75 mL), dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with a gradient of 5-20% EtOAc in hexanes to provide 14.7 g of N-(BOC)-(L)-4-[2′,6′-(dimethoxyphenyl) ]phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester, hydrochloride as a white solid.

[0259] Step C (L)-4-(2′,6′-(Dimethoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride.

[0260] N-(BOC)-(L)-4-(2′,6′-(dimethoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester, hydrochloride (Step B) was dissolved in 350 mL of tert-butyl acetate at 0° C. and was treated with 8.3 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid. The cold bath was removed and after one hour TLC indicated only starting material was present. The reaction mixture was cooled in an ice bath once more and treated with 3.4 mL of concentrated sulfuric acid. The reaction was monitored by TLC. After consumption of the starting material the reaction mixture was diluted with 300 mL of ethyl acetate and was washed with 3 ×100 mL of 1N NaOH followed by brine (1×100 mL). The solution was dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to provide 8.9 g of (L)-4-[2′,6′-(dimethoxyphenyl)]phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride.

[0261] 500 MHz ¹H NMR (CD₃OD):δ 1.45 (s, 9H), 3.20 (d, 2H); 3.69 (s, 6H); 4.20 (t, 1H); 6.72 (d, 2H), 7.15 (m, 5H).

[0262] Reference Example 5

[0263] (L)-4-(2′,6′-(Dimethoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, methyl ester hydrochloride.

[0264] (L)-4-(2′,6′-(Dimethoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, methyl ester hydrochloride was prepared according to the procedure described in Reference Example 4 by substituting N-(BOC)-(L)-tyrosine, methyl ester for N-(BOC)-(L)-tyrosine, tert-butyl ester in Step A.

EXAMPLE 1 N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-biphenylalanine

[0265] Step A Loading of N-FMOC-(L)-biphenylalanine onto resin.

[0266] 427 mg (0.41 mmol based on 0.95 mmol/g capacity) of Wang resin (Bachem) was suspended in 3 ml of 50% THF in CH₂Cl₂ (sufficient to ensure a semi-fluid state) and was treated with 400 mg (0.87 mmol) of N-FMOC-(L)-biphenylalanine, 182 mg (0.95 mmol) of EDC, and 62 mg (0.47 mmol) of DMAP. The mixture was agitated for 3 hours and filtered through an integral frit. The resin was washed twice with 50% THUF in CH₂Cl₂ (50 ml) and then treated similarly with 97 gl (1.69 mmol) of acetic acid, 307 mg (1.61 mmol) of EDC and 96 mg (0.73 mmol) of DMAP. The mixture was filtered though the integral frit and washed successively with 50% THF in CH₂Cl₂ (3×50 ml), CH₂Cl₂ (2 x 50 ml), MeOH (2×50 ml), CH₂Cl₂ (50 ml), MeOH (50 ml), CH₂Cl₂ (2×50 ml) and Et₂O (2×50 ml). The resin was dried in vacuo.

[0267] Loading was evaluated by treating 32 mg of the resin in a 2 ml polyethylene syringe with 95% TFA/H₂O (3×2 ml for 10 minutes). The combined filtrates were concentrated in vacuo and the residue was weighed and analyzed by HPLC. The loading of the resin from Step A averaged 70%.

[0268] Step B Deprotection of the FMOC group.

[0269] 140 mg of the resin from Step A was placed in a 2 ml polyethylene frit fitted syringe. The syringe outlet was capped by a teflon stopcock. The resin was treated with 2 ml (3×10 min) of 50% piperidine in DMF. Following the final treatment the resin was washed with fresh DMF (3×2 ml).

[0270] Step C Acylation with bromoacetic acid.

[0271] The resin from Step B (in the same reaction vessel) was treated with 2 ml of a solution made up in 4 ml of DMA, 334 mg (2.40 mmol) of bromoacetic acid, and 400 μl (2.55 mmol) DIC. The vessel was capped with an adaptor and teflon stopcock and rotated for 30 min. The reaction mixture was filtered and the resin was washed with fresh DMF (3×2 ml) followed by CH₂Cl₂ (2×2 ml), then the reaction was repeated. A 1 mg aliquot of the resin was submitted to the Kaiser test to confirm that all primary amine had been acylated. If the conversion was complete the resin was washed successively with DMF (3×2 ml), CH₂Cl₂ (2×2 ml), MeOH (2×2 ml), CH₂Cl₂ (2 ml), MeOH (2 ml), CH₂Cl₂ (3×2 ml) and dried in vacuo.

[0272] Step D Reaction with thiol reagent.

[0273] Resin from Step C (430 mg) was treated with 5 ml of a solution made up of 4 ml of DMA, 500 μl (4.87 mmol) benzenethiol and 850 μl (4.88 mmol) DIPA. After 30 minutes the reaction mixture was filtered and the resin was washed with DMA (3×2 ml), then the reaction was repeated. An aliquot of the resin was treated with 95% TFA/H₂O (3×1.5 ml) and the resulting filtrates analyzed by LCMS to confirm reaction had occurred.

[0274] Step E Oxidation of sulfide to sulfone.

[0275] Resin from Step D (100 mg) was treated with 2.0 ml of a solution made up of 4 ml of CH₂Cl₂ and mCPBA (1.0 g). After 30 minutes the reaction mixture was filtered, the resin washed with CH₂Cl₂ (3×2 ml), then the reaction was repeated. An aliquot of the resin was treated with 95% TFA/H₂O (3×1.5 ml) and the resulting filtrates analyzed by LCMS to confirm reaction had occurred.

[0276] Step F Alylation of sulfonyl acetate.

[0277] Resin from Step E (85 mg) was swelled with THF (1 ml) and CH₂Cl₂ (1 ml), and treated with N-methyl-diethanolamine (6 μl, 0.05 mmol) 1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)-dipiperidine (68 mg, 0.27 mmol) then butylphosphine (28 μl, 0.27 mmol). After 10 minutes, the mixture was warmed to 40° C. After agitating for 48 hours the reaction mixture was filtered and the resin was washed with DMF (3×2 ml), water (3×2 ml), DMF (3×2 ml) and CH₂Cl₂ (3×2 ml).

[0278] Step G Cleavage of N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-biphenylalanine from the resin.

[0279] The resin from step F was treated with 95% TFA/H₂O (3×1.5 ml) and the resulting filtrates were collected and concentrated in vacuo in a rotary evaporator. The residue was dissolved in approximately 3 ml of 50% aq. CH₃CN then lyophilized to provide N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-biphenylalanine. (10 mg).

[0280] HPLC-MS: m/e 507 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 2 N-(N-Phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-biphenylalanine

[0281] Resin from Example 1, Step E (85 mg) was treated according to the procedure described in Example 1, Step F by substituting N-phenyl-diethanolamine in place of N-methyldiethanolamine. The resulting resin was treated according to the procedure described in Example 1, Step G to afford N-(N-phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-biphenylalanine (5.3 mg).

[0282] HPLC-MS: m/e 569 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 3 N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine

[0283] Resin was prepared according to the procedure described in Example 1, Step A by substituting N-(FMOC)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine in place of N-FMOC-(L)-biphenylalanine. The procedures described in Example 1, Steps B through G were then followed to afford N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine (3 mg).

[0284] HPLC-MS: m/e 537 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 4 N-(N-Methyl-4-(cyclohexylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine

[0285] Employing the resin prepared in Example 3, the procedure described in Example 1, Step D was performed but substituting cyclohexanethiol in place of benzenethiol. The subsequent procedures described in Example 1, Steps E through G were then followed to afford N-(N-methyl-4-(cyclohexylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine (10.6 mg).

[0286] HPLC-MS: m/e 543 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 5 N-(N-Ethyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine

[0287] Step A N-(2-Bromoacetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0288] The free base (88 mg) of (L)- 4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester hydrochloride from Reference Example 3 was obtained by treatment with sodium bicarbonate solution and extraction into CH₂Cl₂. This material was reacted with bromoacetic acid (489 mg, 3.51 mmol) and DIC (551 ml, 3.52 mmol) in DMA. After 2 hours the solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 5-25% ethyl acetate in hexanes, to N-(2-bromoacetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (90 mg).

[0289] Step B N-(2-Phenylthio-acetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0290] N-(2-bromoacetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (260mg, 0.58 mmol) was dissolved in CH₃CN (2 ml) and treated with benzenethiol (66 μl, 0.64 mmol) and DBU (96 μl, 0.70 mmol) at 0° C. After 2 hours the solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 5-25% ethyl acetate in hexanes to afford N-(2-phenylthio-acetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (231 mg).

[0291] Step C N-(2-Phenylsulfonyl-acetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0292] N-(2-Phenylthio-acetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (104 mg, 0.22 mmol) was dissolved in CH₂Cl₂ (2 ml) and treated with mCPBA (179 mg, 0.73 mmol). After 15 minutes the solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 5-25% ethyl acetate in hexanes to afford N-(2-phenylsulfonyl-acetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (117 mg).

[0293] Step D N-(N-Ethyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxy-phenyl) phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0294] N-(2-Phenylsulfonyl-acetyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (59 mg, 0.12 mmol) was dissolved in THF (1 ml), then treated with N-ethyl-diethanolamine (15.2 μl, 0.12 mmol), 1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)-dipiperidine (59 mg, 0.23 mmol) then tributylphosphine (24 μl, 0.23 mmol). After 10 minutes the mixture was warmed to 40° C. After stirring for 3 hours, the solvents were removed in vacuo and the residue purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 30-100% ethyl acetate in hexanes to afford N-(N-ethyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester (22 mg).

[0295] Step E N-(N-Ethyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyll)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxy-phenyl) phenylalanine.

[0296] N-(N-Ethyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxy-phenyl) phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester was treated with 50% TFA/CH₂Cl₂. After stirring for 4 hours the solvents were removed in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in approximately 3 ml of 50% CH₃CN/H₂O then lyophilized to provide N-(N-ethyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine (19.2 mg).

[0297] HPLC-MS: m/e 551 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 6 N-(4-(Phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, trifluoroacetic acid salt.

[0298] Step A N-(BOC)-4-(Phenylthio)-isonipecotate, ethyl ester

[0299] To a solution of 0.69 g (6.8 mmol) of DIEA in 5 ml of dry THF under dry nitrogen atmosphere at −78° C. was added 2.95 ml (6.8 mmol) of a 2.3M solution of n-butyllithium in hexanes. After 15 minutes, a solution of 1.0 g (3.8 mmol) of N-(BOC)-isonipecotic acid, ethyl ester in 4 ml of THF was added dropwise. The solution was then stirred for 45 minutes. A solution of 1.48 g (6.8 mmol) of diphenyldisulfide was added in 3 ml of THF. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature over 90 minutes. 10 ml of 1N HCl solution was added and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3×25 ml). The combined organic extracts were washed successivley with 1N HCl (2×10 ml), saturated NaHCO₃ solution, brine and were dried over anhydrous MgSO₄ The mixture was filtered and concentrated in vacuo and the residue was purified by MPLC on silica gel eluted with 10% EtOAc in hexanes to yield N-(BOC)-4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotate, ethyl ester.

[0300] 400 MHz ¹H NMR (CDCl₃):δ 1.21 (t, 3H); 1.47 (s, 9H); 1.80 (m, 2H); 2.15 (m, 2H); 3.15 (m, 2H); 3.81 (m, 2H); 4.15 (q, 2H); 7.30-7.47 (,5H).

[0301] Step B N-(BOC)-4-(Phenylthio)-isonipecotic acid

[0302] To a solution of 1.0 g (2.7 mmol) of N-(BOC)-4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotate, ethyl ester in 10 ml of ethanol was added 0.67 ml (3.3 mmol) of 5M solution of NaOH in water. The solution was warmed to 50° C. overnight to provide only partial conversion of the ester. A further 0.2 ml of 5M NaOH was added and the solution was heated at 50° C. for a further 24 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated in vacuo and diluted with 20 ml of water. The aqueous phase was extracted with EtOAc (2×10 ml). The aqueous phase was acidified with concentrated HCl solution and was extracted with EtOAc (3×20 ml). The combined organic extracts were dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 0.84 g of N-(BOC)-4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotic acid.

[0303] Step C N-(N-(BOC)-(4-(Phenylthio)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0304] 0.84 g (2.5 mmol) of N-(BOC)-4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotic acid was combined with 0.73 g (2.7 mmol) of (L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, t-butyl ester from Reference Example 3, 1.02 g (2.7 mmol) HBTU, 0.36 g (2.7 mmol) HOBt and 1.45 ml (8.1 mmol) of DIEA in 10 ml of dry DMF. The reaction mixture was stirred over night at room temperature, diluted with EtOAc, washed with 1N HCl (3×20 ml), saturated NaHCO₃ solution, and then dried over anhydrous MgSO4. The mixture was filtered, concentrated in vacuo, and purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 20% EtOAc in hexanes to give 1.0 g of N-(N-(BOC)-(4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0305] 400 MHz ¹H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.42 (s, 9H); 1.43 (s, 9H); 1.70 (m, 2H); 2.00 (m, 1H); 2.15 (m, 1H); 3.15 (m, 2H); 3.38 -3.70 (m, 4H); 3.80 (s, 3H); 4.79 (q, 1H); 6.98-7.03 (m, 2H); 7.20-7.36 (m, 9H); 7.45 (d, 2H).

[0306] Step D N-(N-(BOC)-(4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2,-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0307] A solution of 0.27 g (0.47 mmol) ofN-(N-(BOC)-(4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester was dissolved in 3 ml of CH₂Cl₂ at 0° C. and was treated with 0.24 g (1.4 mmol) of 70% mCPBA for 1 hour. The reaction mixture was diluted with CH₂Cl₂, washed with saturated NaHCO₃ solution and brine, and dried over anhydrous MgSO₄. The mixture was filtered and concentrated in vacuo, and the residue was purified by MPLC on silica gel eluted with a gradient of 10-95% EtOAc in hexanes to give 0.26 g of N-(N-(BOC)-(4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0308] 400 MHz 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.42 (s, 9H); 1.46 (s, 9H); 2.00-2.20 (m, 4H); 2.52 (t, 1H); 2.83 (b,1H); 3.03 and 3.25 (AB, 2H); 3.78 (s, 3H); 4.73 (m, 1H); 7.00 (m, 2H); 7.20-7.65 (m, 1H).

[0309] Step E N-(4-(Phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0310] 0.26 g (0.38 mmol) of N-(N-(BOC)-(4-(phenylthio)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester was dissolved in 10 ml of t-butyl acetate. The solution was treated with 0.18 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid. The solution was stirred over 48 hours, neutralized by addition of 1N NaOH, diluted with EtOAc, washed with water and brine, and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. The mixture was filitered and concentrated in vacuo to give 0.18 g of N-(4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester.

[0311] HPLC-MS: m/e 579 (M+H⁺).

[0312] Step F N-4-(Phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine, trifluoroacetic acid salt.

[0313] 23 mg (0.04 mmol) of N-(4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine, tert-butyl ester was stirred with 1.5 ml of 50% TFA/CH₂Cl₂ for 1 hour. The solution was concentrated in vacuo and was azeotropically dried by concentration from toluene. The residue was purified by preparatory HPLC (YMC Pack Pro C18 100×20 mm i.d. 20 ml/min eluted with 10-90% CH₃CN/H₂O).

[0314] HPLC-MS: m/e 523 (M+1)⁺; 400 MHz ¹H NMR (CD₃OD): δ 2.21 (m, 2H); 2.42 (dt, 1H); 2.67 (m, 1H); 2.95 (bd, 1H); 3.13 (dd, 1H); 3.22 (dt, 1H); 3.32 m, 1H); 3.45 (dd, 1H); 3.53 (bd, 1h); 3.63 (s, 3H); 4.63 (dd, 1H); 6.96 (t, 1H); 7.02 (d, 1H); 7.21-7.40 (m, 5H); 7.44 (d, 2H); 7.56 (m, 4H).

EXAMPLE 7 N-(N-(n-Butyl)-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine

[0315] The procedures described for Example 5 were employed but substituting N-n-butyl-diethanolamine in place of N-ethyl-diethanolamine in Step D to afford N-(N-(n-butyl)-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine (15.8 mg).

[0316] HPLC-MS: m/e 579 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 8 N-(N-(tert-Butyl)-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine.

[0317] The procedures described for Example 5 were employed but substituting N-t-butyldiethanolamine in place of N-ethyl-diethanolamine in Step D to afford N-(N-(tert-butyl)-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine (12 mg).

[0318] HPLC-MS: m/e 579 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 9 N-(N-Phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine.

[0319] The procedures described for Example 5 were employed but substituting N-phenyl-diethanolamine in place of N-ethyl-diethanolamine in Step D to afford N-(N-phenyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′-methoxyphenyl) phenylalanine (13.8 mg).

[0320] HPLC-MS: m/e 599 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 10 N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)-phenylalanine.

[0321] Step A N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotic acid, methyl ester.

[0322] 2-(Phenylsulfonyl)acetic acid, methyl ester (205 mg, 0.95 mmol) was dissolved in THF (20 ml), then treated with N-methyl-diethanolamine (111 μl, 0.97 mmol), 1,1′-(azodicarbonyl)-dipiperidine (483 mg, 1.91 mmol) then tributylphosphine (197 μl, 1.91 mmol). After 10 minutes the mixture was warmed to 40° C. After stirring for 3 hours the solvents were removed and the residue purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 25-75% ethyl acetate in hexanes to give N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotic acid, methyl ester (47 mg).

[0323] Step B N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotic acid, sodium salt

[0324] To a solution of N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotic acid, methyl ester (47 mg, 0.16 mmol) in ethanol (1 ml) was added 5N sodium hydroxide solution (32 μl, 0.16 mmol). After stirring at 55° C. for ten hours, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was azeotroped three times with toluene, then used directly in the next step.

[0325] Step C N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxy-phenyl) phenylalanine, methyl ester

[0326] To a solution of N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotic acid, sodium salt (40 mg, 0.14 mmol) and (L)-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, methyl ester hydrochloride (50 mg, 0.14 mmol) from Reference Example 5 in DMF (1 ml) was added sequentially DIEA (41 μl, 0.24 mmol), HOAt (42 mg, 0.31 mmol) and HATU (70 mg, 0.18 mmol). After stirring at room temperature for ten hours, the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel eluted with 50-100% ethyl acetate in hexanes, then 5% methanol in methylene chloride, to afford N-(N-methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)phenylalanine, methyl ester (19.4 mg).

[0327] Step D N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxy-phenyl) phenylalanine.

[0328] N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxy-phenyl) phenylalanine, methyl ester (19.4 mg) was dissolved in methanol (800 gl) and 1N sodium hydroxide solution (50 μL). After stirring for 3.5 hours, the mixture was poured into saturated ammonium chloride solution (10 ml) and extracted into EtOAc (30 ml). The organic solution was dried over anhydrous MgSO₄ and filtered and the solvent removed under reduced pressure. N-(N-Methyl-4-(phenylsulfonyl)-isonipecotyl)-(L)-4-(2′,6′-dimethoxyphenyl)phenylalanine (6.5 mg) was isolated by lyophilization without further purification.

[0329] HPLC-MS: m/e 567 (M+H⁺).

EXAMPLE 11 Inhibition of VLA-4 Dependent Adhesion to BSA-CS-1 Conjugate

[0330] Step A Preparation of CS-1 Coated Plates.

[0331] Untreated 96 well polystyrene flat bottom plates were coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA; 20 mg/ml) for 2 hours at room temperature and washed twice with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The albumin coating was next derivatized with 10 mg/ml 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (SPDP), a heterobifunctional crosslinker, for 30 minutes at room temperature and washed twice with PBS. The CS-1 peptide (Cys-Leu-His-Gly-Pro-Glu-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val-Pro-Ser-Thr), which was synthesized by conventional solid phase chemistry and purified by reverse phase HPLC, was next added to the derivatized BSA at a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml and allowed to react for 2 hours at room temperature. The plates were washed twice with PBS and stored at 4° C.

[0332] Step B Preparation of Fluorescently Labeled Jurkat Cells.

[0333] Jurkat cells, clone E6-1, obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Md.; cat # ATCC TIB-152) were grown and maintained in RPMI-1640 culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS), 50 units/ml penicillin, 50 mg/ml streptomycin and 2 mM glutamine. Fluorescence activated cell sorter analysis with specific monoclonal antibodies confirmed that the cells expressed both the a4 and b1 chains of VLA-4. The cells were centrifuged at 400×g for five minutes and washed twice with PBS. The cells were incubated at a concentration of 2 ×10⁶ cells/ml in PBS containing a 1 mM concentration of a fluorogenic esterase substrate (2′, 7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and -6)-carboxyfluorescein, acetoxymethyl ester; BCECF-AM; Molecular Probes Inc., Eugene, Oreg.; catalog #B-1 150) for 30-60 minutes at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂/air incubator. The fluorescently labeled Jurkat cells were washed two times in PBS and resuspended in RPMI containing 0.25% BSA at a final concentration of 2.0×10 cells/ml.

[0334] Step C Assay Procedure.

[0335] Compounds of this invention were prepared in DMSO at 100× the desired final assay concentration. Final concentrations were selected from a range between 0.001 nM-100 mM. Three mnL of diluted compound, or vehicle alone, were premixed with 300 mL of cell suspension in 96-well polystyrene plates with round bottom wells. 100 mL aliquots of the cell/compound mixture were then transferred in duplicate to CS-1 coated wells. The cells were next incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. The non-adherent cells were removed by two gentle washings with PBS. The remaining adherent cells were quantitated by reading the plates on a Cytofluor II fluorescence plate reader (Perseptive Biosystems Inc., Framingham, Mass.; excitation and emission filter settings were 485 nm and 530 nm, respectively). Control wells containing vehicle alone were used to determine the level of cell adhesion corresponding to 0% inhibition. Control wells coated with BSA and crosslinker (no CS-1 peptide) were used to determine the level of cell adhesion corresponding to 100% inhibition. Cell adhesion to wells coated with BSA and crosslinker was usually less than 5% of that observed to CS-1 coated wells in the presence of vehicle. Percent inhibition was then calculated for each test well and the IC₅₀ was determined from a ten point titration using a validated four parameter fit algorithm.

EXAMPLE 12 Antagonism of VLA-4 Dependent Binding to VCAM-Ig Fusion Protein.

[0336] Step A Preparation of VCAM-Ig.

[0337] The signal peptide as well as domains 1 and 2 of human VCAM (GenBank Accession no. M30257) were amplified by PCR using the human VCAM cDNA (R & D Systems) as template and the following primer sequences: 3′-PCR primer: 5′-AATTATAATTTGATCAACTTAC CTGTCAATTCTTTTACAGCCTGCC-3′;

[0338] 5′-PCR primer:

[0339] 5′-ATAGGAATTCCAGCTGCCACCATGCCTGGGAAGATGGTCG-3′. The 5′-PCR primer contained EcoRI and PvuII restriction sites followed by a Kozak consensus sequence (CCACC) proximal to the initiator methionine ATG. The 3′-PCR primer contained a BcII site and a splice donor sequence. PCR was performed for 30 cycles using the following parameters: 1 min. at 94° C. 2 min. at 55° C., and 2 min. at 72° C. The amplified region encoded the following sequence of human VCAM-1:

[0340] MPGKMVVILGASNILWIMFAASQAFKIETTPESRYLAQIGDSVSLTCSTTGCES PFFSWRTQIDSPLNGKVTNEGTTSTLTMNPVSFGNEHSYLCTATCESRKLEKGI QVEIYSFPKDPEIHLSGPLEAGKPITVKCSVADVYPFDRLEIDLLKGDBLMKSQ EFLEDADRKSLETKSLEVTFTPVIEDIGKVLVCRAKLETDEMDSVPTVRQAVK EL. The resulting PCR product of 650 bp was digested with EcoRI and BcII and ligated to expression vector pIg-Tail (R & D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.) digested with EcoRI and BamHI. The pIg-Tail vector contains the genomic fragment which encodes the hinge region, CH2 and CH3 of human IgGI (GenBank Accession no. Z17370). The DNA sequence of the resulting VCAM fragment was verified using Sequenase (US Biochemical, Cleveland, Ohio). The fragment encoding the entire VCAM-Ig fusion was subsequently excised from pIg-Tail with EcoRI and NotI and ligated to pCI-neo (Promega, Madison, Wis.) digested with EcoRI and NotI. The resulting vector, designated pCI-neo/VCAM-Ig was transfected into CHO-KI (ATCC CCL 61) cells using calcium-phosphate DNA precipitation (Specialty Media, Lavalette, N.J.). Stable VCAM-Ig producing clones were selected according to standard protocols using 0.2-0.8 mg/ml active G418 (Gibco, Grand Island, N.Y.), expanded, and cell supernatants were screened for their ability to mediate Jurkat adhesion to wells previously coated with 1.5 mg/ml (total protein) goat anti-human IgG (Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.). A positive CHO-K1I/VCAM-Ig clone was subsequently adapted to CHO-SFM serum-free media (Gibco) and maintained under selection for stable expression of VCAM-Ig. VCAM-Ig was purified from crude culture supernatants by affinity chromatography on Protein A/G Sepharose (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.) according to the manufacturer's instructions and desalted into 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.6, by ultrafiltration on a YM-30 membrane (Amicon, Beverly, Mass.).

[0341] Step B Preparation of ¹²⁵I-VCAM-Ig.

[0342] VCAM-Ig was labeled to a specific radioactivity greater that 1000 Ci/mmole with ¹²⁵I-Bolton Hunter reagent (New England Nuclear, Boston, Mass.; cat # NEX120-0142) according to the manufacturer's instructions.The labeled protein was separated from unincorporated isotope by means of a calibrated HPLC gel filtration column (G2000SW; 7.5×600 mm; Tosoh, Japan) using uv and radiometric detection.

[0343] Step C VCAM-IG Binding Assay.

[0344] Compounds of this invention were prepared in DMSO at 100× the desired final assay concentration. Final concentrations were selected from a range between 0.001 nM-100 μM. Jurkat cells were centrifuged at 400×g for five minutes and resuspended in binding buffer (25 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, 3 mM KCl, 2 mM glucose, 0.1% bovine serum albumin, pH 7.4). The cells were centrifuged again and resuspended in binding buffer supplemented with MnCl₂ at a final concentration of 1 mM. Compounds were assayed in Millipore MHVB multiscreen plates (cat# MHVBN4550, Millipore Corp., MA) by making the following additions to duplicate wells: (i) 200 μL of binding buffer containing 1 mM MnCl₂; (ii) 20 μL of ¹²⁵I-VCAM-Ig in binding buffer containing 1 mM MnCl₂ (final assay concentration 100 μM); (iii) 2.5 μL of compound solution or DMSO; (iv) and 0.5×10⁶ cells in a volume of 30 mL. The plates were incubated at room temperature for 30 minutes, filtered on a vacuum box, and washed on the same apparatus by the addition of 100 μL of binding buffer containing 1 mM MnCl₂. After insertion of the multiscreen plates into adapter plates (Packard, Meriden, Conn., cat# 6005178), 100 μL of Microscint-20 (Packard cat# 6013621) was added to each well. The plates were then sealed, placed on a shaker for 30 seconds, and counted on a Topcount microplate scintillation counter (Packard). Control wells containing DMSO alone were used to determine the level of VCAM-Ig binding corresponding to 0% inhibition. Control wells in which cells were omitted were used to determine the level of binding corresponding to 100% inhibition. Binding of ¹²⁵I-VCAM-Ig in the absence of cells was usually less than 5% of that observed using cells in the presence of vehicle. Percent inhibition was then calculated for each test well and the IC₅₀ was determined from a ten point titration using a validated four parameter fit algorithm.

EXAMPLE 13 Antagonism of α₄β₇ Dependent Binding to VCAM-Ig Fusion Protein.

[0345] Step A α₄β₇ Cell line.

[0346] RPMI-8866 cells (a human B cell line α₄ ⁺β₁ ⁻β₇ ⁺; a gift from Prof. John Wilkins, University of Manitoba, Canada) were grown in RPMI/10% fetal calf serum/100 U penicillin/100 Ag streptomycin/2 mM L-glutamine at 37° C., 5% carbon dioxide. The cells were pelleted at 1000 rpm for 5 minutes and then washed twice and resuspended in binding buffer (25 mM Hepes, 150 mM NaCl, 0.1 % BSA, 3 mM KCl, 2 mM Glucose, pH 7.4).

[0347] Step B VCAM-Ig Binding Assay.

[0348] Compounds of this invention were prepared in DMSO at 100×the desired final assay concentration. Final concentrations were selected from a range between 0.001 nM-100 μM. Compounds were assayed in Millipore MHVB multiscreen plates (Cat# MHVBN4550) by making the following sequential additions to duplicate wells: (i) 100 ml/well of binding buffer containing 1.5 mM MnCl₂; (ii) 10 ml/well ¹²⁵I-VCAM-Ig in binding buffer (final assay concentration<500 pM); (iii) 1.5 ml/well test compound or DMSO alone; (iv) 38 ml/well RPMI-8866 cell suspension (1.25×10⁶ cells/well). The plates were incubated at room temperature for 45 minutes on a plate shaker at 200 rpm, filtered on a vacuum box, and washed on the same apparatus by the addition of 100 mL of binding buffer containing 1 mM MnCl₂. After insertion of the multiscreen plates into adapter plates (Packard, Meriden, Conn., cat# 6005178), 100 mL of Microscint-20 (Packard cat# 6013621) was added to each well. The plates were then sealed, placed on a shaker for 30 seconds, and counted on a Topcount microplate scintillation counter (Packard). Control wells containing DMSO alone were used to determine the level of VCAM-Ig binding corresponding to 0% inhibition. Wells in which cells were omitted were used to determine the level of binding corresponding to 100% inhibition. Percent inhibition was then calculated for each test well and the IC₅₀ was determined from a ten point titration using a validated four parameter fit algorithm. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Formula I

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein: X is 1) -S-, 2) -S(O)m-, Y is 1) a bond, or 2) -C(R⁷)(R⁸)- m is an integer from 1 to 2; n is an integer from 1 to 10; p is a number chosen from 0, 1, 2, or 3; R¹ is 1) hydrogen, provided X is S, 2) C₁₋₁₀alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, 5) Cy, or 9) -NR^(d)R^(e), wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(a), and Cy is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(b); R² is 1) hydrogen, 2) C₁₋₁₀alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, and 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(a); R³ is 1) C₁₋₁₀alkyl, 2) Ar¹, 3) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀alkyl, 4) Ar¹-Ar², 5) Ar¹- Ar²-C₁₋₁₀alkyl, wherein the alkyl group is optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(a), and Ar¹ and Ar² are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(b) , R⁴ is 1) hydrogen, 2) C₁₋₁₀alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(a); R⁵ is 1) hydroxy, 2) C₁₋₁₀alkoxy, 3) C₂₋₁₀alkenyloxy, 4) C₂₋₁₀alkynyloxy, 5) Cy-O-, 6) Cy-C₁₋₁₀alkoxy, 7) amino, 8) C₁₋₁₀alkylamino, 9) di(C₁₋₁₀alkyl)amino, 10) Cy-C₁₋₁₀alkylamino, wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from R^(a), and Cy is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(b); R⁶ is 1) hydrogen, 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, 5) Cy 6) -S(O)_(m)R^(d), 7) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e), 8) -C(O)R^(d), 9) -CO₂R^(d), 10) -CO₂(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)CONR^(d)R^(e), or 11) -C(O)NR^(d)R^(e), wherein alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(a), and Cy is optionally substituted with one to four substituents indepdently selected from R^(b); or R⁶ and an R^(h) attached to the carbon atom adjacent to the ring nitrogen together complete a 4-8 membered ring optionally containing one other heteroatom chosen from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur; R⁷ is 1) hydrogen, 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, 5) Ar¹, 6) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, 7) -OR^(d), 8) -O(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)N^(d)R^(e), 9) -OC(O)R^(d), 10) -OC(O)NR^(d)R^(e), 11) halogen, 12) -SR^(d), 13) -S(O)_(m)R^(d), 14) S(O)₂OR^(d), 15) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e), 16) -NO₂, 17) -NR^(d)R^(e), 18) -NR^(d)C(O)R^(e), 19) -NR^(d)S(O)_(m)R^(e), 20) -NR^(d)C(O)OR^(e), or 21) -NR^(d)C(O)NR^(d)R^(e), wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and Ar¹ are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c); R⁸ is 1) hydrogen, 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, 5) Cy, or 6) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, Cy and Ar¹ are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c); R^(a) is 1) halogen, 2) -OR^(d), 3) -OC(O)R^(d), 4) -OC(O)NR^(d)R^(e), 5) -O(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)NR^(d)R^(e), 6) -SR^(d), 7) -S(O)_(m)R^(d), 8) -S(O)₂OR^(d), 9) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e), 10) -NR^(d)R^(e), 11) -NR^(d)C(O)R^(e), 12) -NR^(d)C(O)OR^(e), 13) -NR^(d)C(O)NR^(d)R^(e), 14) -C(O)R^(d), 15) -CO₂R^(d), 16) -C(O)NR^(d)R^(e), 17) -CO₂(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)CONR^(d)R^(e), 18) -CN, 19) -CR^(d)(N—OR^(e)), 20) -NO₂, 21) CF₃, 22) -OCF₃, or 23) Cy optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(c); R^(b) is 1) a group selected from R^(a), 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, or 8) Ar¹-C₁₋₁₀alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and Ar¹ are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c); R^(c) is 1) halogen, 2) amino, 3) C₁₋₄alkylamino, 4) di(C₁₋₄alkyl)amino, 5) carboxy, 6) cyano, 7) C₁₋₄alkyl, 8) arylC₁₋₄alkyl, 9) Ar¹, 10) hydroxy, 11) C₁₋₄alkoxy, 12) aryloxy, or 13) CF₃; R^(d) and R^(e) are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₁₀alkyl, C₂₋₁₀alkenyl, C₂₋₁₀alkynyl, Cy and Cy C₁₋₁₀alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and Cy are optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from R^(c); or R^(d) and R^(e) together with the atoms to which they are attached form a heterocyclic ring of 4 to 7 members containing 0-2 additional heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen; R^(f) and R^(g) are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁₋₁₀alkyl, Cy and Cy-C₁₋₁₀alkyl; or R^(f) and R^(g) together with the carbon to which they are attached form a ring of 4 to 7 members containing 0-2 heteroatoms independently selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen; R^(h) is 1) a group selected from R^(a), 2) C₁₋₁₀ alkyl, 3) C₂₋₁₀ alkenyl, 4) C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl, 5) Cy, 6) oxo, wherein alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, and Cy are optionally substituted with one to four substituents selected from a group independently selected from R^(c); or two R^(h) groups attached to adjacent ring atoms together complete 4-8 membered aromatic or non-aromatic ring containing 0-2 heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen; or two R^(h) groups attached to the same ring atom together complete a 4-8 membered ring containing 0-2 heteroatom selected from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen; with the proviso that when R^(h) is chosen from 1) -OR^(d), 2) -OC(O)R^(d), 3) -OC(O)NR^(d)R^(e), 4) -O(CR^(f)R^(g))_(n)NR^(d)R^(e), 5) -SR^(d), 6) -S(O)_(m)R^(d), 7) -S(O)₂OR^(d), 8) -S(O)_(m)NR^(d)R^(e), 9) -NR^(d)R^(e), 10) -NR^(d)C(O)R^(e), 11) -NR^(d)C(O)OR^(e), 12) -NR^(d)C(O)NR^(d)R^(e), or 13) -NO₂, 14) halogen, 15) -CN, and 16) -CR^(d)(N—OR^(e)), it is not attached to an atom adjacent to the ring nitrogen; Cy is cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or heteroaryl; Ar¹ and Ar² are independently selected from aryl and heteroaryl.
 2. A compound of claim 1 wherein X is S or SO₂.
 3. A compound of claim 1 wherein X is SO₂.
 4. A compound of claim 1 wherein Y is a bond.
 5. A compound of claim 1 wherein R¹ is Cy.
 6. A compound of claim 1 wherein R¹ is phenyl.
 7. A compound of claim 1 wherein R⁵ is OH.
 8. A compound of claim 1 wherein R² and R⁴ are each hydrogen, and R³ is Ar¹-Ar²-C₁₋₃alkyl wherein Ar¹ and Ar² are each optionally substituted with one to four groups independently selected from R^(b).
 9. A compound of claim 8 wherein R³ is Ar²-benzyl, where Ar² is phenyl substituted with one to two groups selected from C₁₋₅alkyl, hydroxy, C₁₋₅alkoxy and NR^(d)R^(e).
 10. A compound of claim 8 wherein R³ is 4-phenylbenzyl wherein phenyl is optionally substituted with one or two methoxy groups.
 11. A compound of claim 1 having the formula Ia:

wherein R1, R6 and Rb are as defined in claim
 1. 12. A compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of:

Ex. R¹ R⁶ R^(b1)/R^(b2) 1 Ph CH₃ H/H 2 Ph Ph H/H 3 Ph CH₃ H/OCH₃ 4 c-Hex CH₃ H/OCH₃ 5 Ph CH₂H₃ H/OCH₃ 6 Ph H H/OCH₃ 7 Ph n-C₄H₉ H/OCH₃ 8 Ph C(CH₃)₃ H/OCH₃ 9 Ph Ph H/OCH₃ 10  Ph CH₃ OCH₃/OCH₃


13. A method for inhibiting cell adhesion in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal an effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 14. A method for the treatment of diseases, disorders, conditions or symptoms mediated by cell adhesion in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal an effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 15. A method for the treatment of asthma in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 16. A method for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 17. A method for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 18. A method for the treatment of atherosclerosis in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 19. A method for the treatment of inflammation in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal an effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 20. A method for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in a mammal which comprises administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim
 1. 21. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier thereof. 